EFNA4
EFNA4 (ephrin A4, also known as LERK4 and EPLG4) is a GPI-anchored cell surface ligand for Eph receptors. It binds receptors on adjacent cells and drives contact-dependent bidirectional signalling during development. Browse Assay Genie's current range of EFNA4 research reagents below, or read on for the biology behind the target.
EFNA4 is a cell surface ligand for Eph receptors, a family of receptor tyrosine kinases that are crucial for migration, repulsion and adhesion during neuronal, vascular and epithelial development. It is attached to the membrane by a glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) linkage and binds promiscuously to Eph receptors on neighbouring cells. This engagement leads to contact-dependent bidirectional signalling, so that both the ligand-bearing cell and the receptor-bearing cell receive information. UniProt also suggests that EFNA4 may play a role in the interaction between activated B-lymphocytes and dendritic cells in tonsils.
The EFNA4 gene encodes a member of the ephrin family. Ephrins and EPH-related receptors make up the largest subfamily of receptor protein-tyrosine kinases and have been implicated in developmental events, especially in the nervous system and in erythropoiesis. Based on structure and sequence relationships, ephrins are divided into the ephrin-A class, which is GPI-anchored, and the ephrin-B class, which comprises transmembrane proteins. EFNA4 belongs to the ephrin-A class. UniProt records its locations as the cell membrane and secreted.
The protein is listed by HGNC as ephrin A4 within the Ephrins gene group, with the previous symbols LERK4 and EPLG4. NCBI Gene notes that this ephrin-A class member has been implicated in the proliferation and metastasis of several types of cancer, which makes the EFNA4 protein a point of interest for researchers studying Eph–ephrin signalling in tumour biology as well as in development. The mouse ortholog is Efna4.
EFNA4 binds Eph receptors on adjacent cells and triggers contact-dependent bidirectional signalling, making it a ligand for studying receptor tyrosine kinase communication.
Eph receptors are crucial for migration, repulsion and adhesion in neuronal, vascular and epithelial development, processes in which ephrin ligands take part.
EFNA4 has been implicated in the proliferation and metastasis of several types of cancer, according to the NCBI Gene summary.
EFNA4 may play a role in the interaction between activated B-lymphocytes and dendritic cells in tonsils.
EFNA4 is a GPI-anchored cell surface ligand for Eph receptors. It binds receptors promiscuously on adjacent cells, producing contact-dependent bidirectional signalling that supports migration, repulsion and adhesion in development. It may also contribute to B-lymphocyte and dendritic cell interactions in tonsils.
EFNA4 is the HGNC symbol for ephrin A4, and UniProt names the protein Ephrin-A4. Previous symbols and aliases include LERK4 and EPLG4. Searching under any of these names should lead to the same gene and protein record.
A mouse ortholog, Efna4, is recorded for this gene. NCBI Gene reports that EFNA4 has been implicated in the proliferation and metastasis of several cancers. Check the datasheet of any product for its validated reactivity.
Other ephrin-A class ligands that signal through Eph receptors.
Gene and protein annotations from HGNC, NCBI Gene and UniProt P52798; product specifications from Assay Genie datasheets.